Crunch split two games at St. John’s

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
November 30, 2016

The Syracuse Crunch took a trip to the Atlantic region of Canada for a quick two-game jaunt to Newfoundland to face St. John’s, the affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. After picking up the victory on Tuesday, the Crunch rallied to force overtime on Wednesday before falling in a shootout.

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In the opening game on Tuesday defenseman Matt Taromina led the way offensive with two goals and an assist in a 6-2 victory. Jeremy Morin also scored a pair of goals while Joel Vermin and Mike Halmo each had a goal and assist.

Tanner Richard and Cory Conacher both finished with two assists while Adam Wilcox picked up the victory while making 20 saves.

Syracuse jumped out to the quick lead as Yanni Gourde fed a pass to Taormina to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds in to the game. Morin made it 2-0 six minutes later and Syracuse never looked back, holding a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period, with Morin scoring again late in the first after St. John’s scored a power play goal.

Taormina added his second of the game in the second period, for a 4-1 lead before the IceCaps scored again on the power play with 10 seconds left in the middle period. Vermin and Halmo would score in the third period to put the game out of reach for Syracuse, which won it’s third consecutive game.

The two teams were right back at it the next night, though the Crunch were short two players – Michael Bournival and Vermin – who were called up to the Lightning earlier in the day.

Syracuse was able to rally in the third period to force overtime before falling 3-2 in a shootout.

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and defenseman Adam Comrie scored for Syracuse.

Kristers Gudlevskis made 28 saves.

Leblond gave the Crunch a first period lead before St. John’s scored twice in the final 3:18 of the second period, including the go-ahead goal with one second remaining in the period.

Comrie pulled the Crunch even early in the third period with a slap shot from the right point.

After neither team converted during the 3-on-3 overtime period, the IceCaps converted twice in the shootout while Tanner Richard and Cory Conacher were both turned aside, giving St. John’s the extra point.

Syracuse returns home to face Rochester on Saturday.

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